The family of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has warned that he may not be able to appear in court on Friday, November 7, 2025, for his ongoing terrorism trial. The family blames the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly obstructing his preparations for the case.
In a statement released on Thursday evening and signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, a younger brother to the IPOB leader, the family accused the DSS of deliberately frustrating Kanu’s legal defence. They said the secret police had made it “almost impossible” for him to meet with his lawyers, family members, and key witnesses, or even to file necessary court documents ahead of the trial.
“Because of these actions, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu may not be able to appear in court on Friday, not because he does not want to, but because he has been denied the chance to get ready and defend himself,” the statement read.
The family said the DSS has refused to allow Kanu the privacy and access needed to prepare for his defence, adding that his legal meetings are being recorded and restricted.
According to the family, Kanu’s basic rights as an accused person are being violated. The statement alleged that the DSS has been denying him access to a computer, printer, and other materials needed to prepare court documents. It also claimed that the secret police have blocked Kanu from taking his legal documents to the court registry.
“The DSS has been doing the following: stopping his visitors, recording his meetings with lawyers and family, refusing to give him access to materials for preparing his case, and declining to take him to file his documents,” the family said.
The family described these actions as a clear violation of Kanu’s constitutional rights and international human rights standards, which guarantee every accused person the right to a fair hearing and proper legal representation.
“Every accused person has the right to facilities to prepare adequately for court and to interact freely with their lawyers and witnesses. But the DSS is stopping Mazi Kanu from doing so,” the family stressed.
They also warned that if Kanu fails to appear in court, Nigerians and the international community should not see it as disobedience to the court but as the result of government obstruction.
“If Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot appear in court or defend himself, the DSS and the Nigerian Government should be held responsible. They are frustrating him, ignoring court orders, and breaking his rights,” the statement said.
Nnamdi Kanu, a British-Nigerian political activist, has been at the centre of one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal and political battles in recent years. He is the leader of IPOB, a group campaigning for the secession of the South-East region from Nigeria to form an independent state of Biafra.
He was first arrested in 2015 by the DSS and charged with treasonable felony, but later released on bail in 2017. Kanu fled the country after a military operation in his hometown of Afaraukwu, Abia State, in 2017. He was later re-arrested and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021 under circumstances his lawyers described as “extraordinary rendition” from Kenya — a move that sparked international criticism.
Since then, Kanu has been held in DSS custody in Abuja, facing multiple charges including terrorism and incitement. His trial has faced several delays and legal disputes, including repeated court orders calling for his release or transfer to a neutral facility, which the DSS has allegedly ignored.
His legal team has also accused the DSS of denying him access to medical care, a claim the security agency has consistently denied.
Friday’s scheduled hearing is expected to continue arguments in Kanu’s terrorism trial, but the fresh claims from his family have now cast doubt on whether he will appear in court.
The family said that despite previous court rulings granting him certain privileges, the DSS has continued to act in disregard of those orders. They accused the security agency of deliberately trying to frustrate his case and influence the court’s outcome.
“What the DSS is doing is unfair, unlawful, and intentional. They are making it difficult for him to defend himself so that the case can be decided against him,” the family stated.
They also accused the DSS of planning to portray Kanu as disrespectful to the court if he fails to appear, insisting that such a narrative would be false and misleading.
“We are issuing this warning now before they start peddling their propaganda that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is disrespectful to the court by declining to appear,” the family said.
The Kanu family urged international bodies, including the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and the Commonwealth, to closely monitor the case. They also appealed to human rights groups and advocates around the world to speak out against what they called “systematic injustice” against their brother.
“The Nigerian Government cannot claim to follow the rule of law while silencing a defendant and blocking his right to a fair hearing,” the family said.
The call for international attention comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s human rights record, especially in cases involving political detainees. Rights groups such as Amnesty International have in the past accused security agencies, including the DSS, of detaining suspects without trial and ignoring court orders.
As of Thursday night, the DSS had not issued any official response to the latest allegations from Kanu’s family. However, the agency has previously denied similar accusations, insisting that it has always treated Kanu in accordance with the law and court guidelines.
The Federal Government has also maintained that Kanu’s trial is being conducted fairly, arguing that his actions and statements as IPOB leader have caused insecurity in parts of the South-East. IPOB, which the government has labeled a terrorist organization, continues to deny any involvement in violent activities, insisting that its struggle for Biafra remains peaceful.
Nnamdi Kanu’s trial continues to divide opinion across Nigeria. Many in the South-East see him as a freedom fighter standing up for the rights of his people, while others believe his rhetoric has deepened ethnic tension and insecurity.
As the court prepares for the next hearing, attention will be on whether the DSS will allow Kanu to appear in person and whether the court will address the concerns raised by his family.
